Habitat For Humanity and Public Good

The company that I researched for this blog post was Habitat for Humanity. Founded in 1976, the company’s mission statement is: “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope”. Their main focus has been to construct simple, decent, and affordable housing, a self-described “Christian housing ministry,” and has addressed the issues of poverty housing all over the world. Obviously building houses for people in need is a form of social good initiative. They have grown tremendously since they first started, and now build houses all over the world for families that need them. They also have helped after several tragedies, including relief efforts in Haiti after the earthquake, the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, and Bangladesh after a cyclone decimated several cities.

Habitat for Humanity uses a committee to decide what families in need get a house built for them. This committee looks at the families’ level of need, their willingness to be partners in the program, and the families’ ability to repay the loan they receive through an affordable payment plan. The committee takes all of this data into account when choosing what family gets a home. They get all this data from previous experiences and the families themselves, all of which help them make their decision. This information includes a background check, employer interviews, character references, and an audit of finances, among other things.

Habitat for Humanity has been around since 1976, so it is a well-established company and a household name. The company is a Christian based non-profit organization, so they benefit in terms of their religious beliefs. They do not only build houses for needy people, but they also renovate existing buildings in urban areas. The families that are receiving the houses also put hours of work into building the house, something Habitat calls “sweat equity”. I worked with Habitat for Humanity while I was in high school and remember working alongside a family with three kids which was a pretty cool experience. The company also receives and benefits from generous donations from supporters, and hosts several events that help them raise money and awareness for their cause. Mortgage payments from Habitat for Humanity homeowners go into a locally administered “Fund for Humanity”, which goes toward future construction products. The company has received several criticisms over the years, but has generally been well received by the general population.